Rachel Comey's independent fashion label is celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026. The brand, known for clothing that suits active women, has grown from a small operation to include four stores in California and New York, with a fifth set to open soon in Manhattan's West Village. Founder Rachel Comey reflects on the label's evolution since its New York Fashion Week debut shortly before 9/11.
Rachel Comey launched her label in the early 2000s, initially producing men's shirts before shifting focus to women's daywear, denim, bags, shoes, and jewelry. It took six years to turn a profit, according to Comey, who at 53 now oversees a bustling studio in Manhattan's NoHo neighborhood. The designer, lacking formal fashion training, drew from her background in art, gallery work, and styling to build the brand independently amid changing industry trends. Jen Mankins, founder of the former Brooklyn boutique Bird, praised Comey's approach: “Her sense of clothes as a vehicle for showcasing a woman’s identity, as opposed to dictating a woman’s identity—that felt radical.” The label appeals to creative women like Zadie Smith, Cindy Sherman, Debbie Harry, and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Smith said, “She makes us look like interesting women doing interesting things.” Comey has prioritized diverse models of varying ages and shapes, ahead of industry norms, and hosted unique events like intimate dinners in Brooklyn's Red Hook in 2013, featuring performers such as Justin Vivian Bond and emcee Tracee Ellis Ross. The first store opened in SoHo in 2014, helping Comey understand her customers' needs for functional yet experimental pieces with bold colors, patterns, and textures. A new store on Christopher Street will double as a space for exhibitions curated by Soft Network, alongside book clubs and lectures.
